The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-02-10
COQUETTE.
Puck.

When Harry Radcliffe married Co
quette Carson it had been a gen.
uine love-match. Coquette was one of
large family of dewy-eyed. rose-lipped
girls, whose faces were their fortunes.
At altevents, other fortunes they had
none. And the other five sisters secret
Iy envied Coquctte when the handsome
young artist took her away with half a
dozen new gowns, u box of initiated
pocket-handkerchiefs, and bonnet
fresh from the little milliner's around
the corner
To be sure, Harry was not rich, but
it was only question of time, argued
the five sisters, how soon he should be
famous as Meissonier, rich as Cresus.
An artist like him was sure to succeed.
..And what fun it would be to visit
Coquette when she should be rich and
famous?' cried the five. in chorus.
Il haven't much faith in artists"
Old Colonel Carson said, obviously.
.But Coquette liked the fellow, so what
could | say?"
So Harry carried the village beauty
off to his studio at the top of the
Wycherly Building. where the walls
were painted terra-cotta color. the doors
draped with gorgeous Oriental stutfs,
and every corner filled with picturesque
tables. high-shouldered Japanese vases,
and quaint folding screens
'.How do You like it. darlingP" he
cried, exultantly.
..It's beautiful" Coquette answered,
with a shy sidelong. glance at the dunn,
my, which, dressed in Marie Antoin-
ette" costume, leaned up against the
corner of the wall, as if marie Antoi-
nette" had had too much to drink.
But thought. Harry, it was suite."
80 it isr' cried the young artist,
pulling aside a sage-green drapery,
with dadoes of Pompeian-red plush.
"And here's the bedroom.
II should call it an alcoye, Harry"
'Well, it's plenty big enough to
sleep in; and here" opening the door
of q tiny, three-cornered nook. lis a
dressing-room. What could one want
more, should like to knowe"
Coquette tried to smile. The old
house at home had been SO roomy. SO
spacious! And here. in this cramped-
up corner, she felt as if she could scarce
ly breathe.
Have you many orders, Harry"
said she, glancing around at the pict-
ures in various stages of completion
that lined the studio walls.
"Well, no-not many yet Not any,
in fact" he added. laughing and color
ing. But, of course. l shall have plenty
one of these days. A man has to work
his way up, you know"
..But, Harry"
"Well?" %
"How do you live?"
"Eh?" he questioned, blandly.
'.Those beautiful Jacquiminot roses
on the table. Harry, and the hot-house
apricots and nectarines in the gilded
basket. and the wicker-chair tied with
pink ribbons--surely all those things
must be expensive"
He laughed.
They would be, if l had paid for
'em." said he. .'but haven't"
"Oh, Harry!"
..It's time enough" he said, careless
ly. Those fellows always send in
their bills long before one wants 'em.
Nobody pays ready money for such
things; and l supposed you would be
pleased with them"
$50 l am, DEAR" cried Coquette. over
whelmed with sense of her own in
gratitude; "and it was so good of you
to think of them. But-but we are not
rich people-and papa'always says that
economy is better than wealth-and
since you really have no orders as yet,
don't you think we ought to be very
careful of how we spend our money?
And, Harry-I have been brought up
to manage all the household affairs
if you would only trust me with the
pursem
so will, sweetheart" said Harry,
with a great. rolllcking laugh, 'when l
get any cash"
Harry" she cried, haven't you any
money leftP"
He opened his empty purse. by way
of answer, and held it up before her.
But don't fret, darling" he cried,
cheerily. Business is sure to come in
before long"
Nevertheless. Coquetts looked at him
with grieved, startled eyes.
She had always heard that artists
we're an improvident race, but up to the
present time she had never believed it.
..But, of course, now that he is mar
ried and settled, he will take quite ii
different view of things" she pondered.
..And have got six new dresses and
all the clothes shall need for year,
Ut least"
And when she wrote her first letter
home to the five sisters, she declared
over and over again, that she was per
fectly happy"
But as the time crept on. and the
six new gowns grew shabby, and the
tradespeople clamOred for their bills,
and no gold-edged orders came in.
Coquette's heart failed her. and even
Harry began to look unwontedly grave
And, as il to crown their troubles,
poor young Radcliffe fell ill of fever,
and life's trials looked Coqustts grimly
ip the tsess